Downingtown school board accepts fact-finder report

EAST CALN - The Downingtown Area School Board voted to accept the recommendations submitted by fact-finder Rochelle K. Kaplan during a special meeting Friday in a 8-1 vote.

Jacqueline Fenn, school board member and spokesperson for the board’s Negotiations Committee, said the 4-year deal recommended by the fact-finder does not meet all of the requirements of the school board. It does, however, represent a fiscally sound plan that enables the district to maintain current student programs while not overburdening taxpayers, she said.

A different report could have left the district considering cuts to programs or tax increases.

“We sincerely hope that the teacher’s union realizes that the fact-finder’s recommendation is the best compromise for all parties – teachers, students, the school board and taxpayers,” Fenn said.

The dissenting vote was cast by board member Thomas Ost-Prisco.

Ost-Prisco said he had been advised by counsel that members other than Fenn are not permitted to comment on the report before it is publicly released.

“It was the union’s decision to pursue fact-finding and while the school board does not agree with all aspects of the fact-finder’s report, in the spirit of fairness to our teachers and the community members who have endured years of negotiations, the school board wants to accept this proposal and is very hopeful that the Downingtown Area Education Association will do the same,” said Fenn.

According to union president Craig Krusen, teachers will vote on the fact-finder’s report on Tuesday, Feb. 5.

Full details of the report have not yet been publicly released.

The fact-finder’s primary responsibility is to review both proposals and offer a compromise. The fact-finder’s report was received by both parties on Monday, Jan. 28. Both the school board and the teacher’s union have 10 days from that date to notify the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board if they accept the report in its entirety or reject it. If either party rejects the report, the report is made public.

No less than five days and no more than 10 days after the report is made public, each side must again inform the PLRB as to whether or not it accepts the report.

“Ratification of this plan would end a very lengthy negotiation process and allow everyone to focus on what is most important…the education of Downingtown’s students,” said Fenn.

Teachers have been working under an expired contract for more than two years.